Podocarpus plant named ‘Miu’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Podocarpus macrophyllus , ‘Miu’, that is characterized by its growth tips and leaves that are yellow-white in color, its variegated foliage that is mottled with yellow and green throughout the leaves, its straight trunk with medium tapering, and its limited branching without pruning.

Botanical classification: Podocarpus macrophyllus.

Variety denomination: ‘Miu’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to a plant breeders' rights application filed in Japan on Oct. 27, 2010, application No. 225299. There have been no offers for sale anywhere in the world prior to the filing of this Application and no accessibility to one of ordinary skill in the art could have been derived from printed plant breeder's rights documents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Podocarpus macrophyllus and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Miu’. ‘Miu’ is a new cultivar of evergreen shrub grown for use as a landscape shrub.

The new cultivar arose from an ongoing breeding program commenced by the Inventor in 1975 in Sosa-shi, Chiba, Japan. The new cultivar was discovered as a seedling in 2003 from seed collected from an unnamed and unpatented plant of Podocarpus macrophyllus from the Inventor's breeding program. The male parent is unknown.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the Inventor using softwood stem cuttings in Sosa-shi, Chiba, Japan in May of 2003. Asexual propagation by softwood stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Miu’ as a unique cultivar of Podocarpus.

-   -   1. ‘Miu’ exhibits new growth tips and leaves that are         yellow-white in color.     -   2. ‘Miu’ exhibits variegated foliage that is mottled with yellow         and green throughout the leaves.     -   3. ‘Miu’ exhibits a straight trunk with medium tapering.     -   4. ‘Miu’ exhibits limited branching without pruning.

The female parent of ‘Miu’ differs from ‘Miu’ in having non-variegated solid green foliage. ‘Miu’ can be compared to the Podocarpus macrophyllus cultivars ‘Ogon-nagi’ (not patented) and ‘Aureus’ (not patented). Both differ from ‘Miu’ in having non-variegated foliage. ‘Ogon-nagi’ differs from ‘Miu’ in having green foliage. ‘Aureus’ differs from ‘Miu’ in having foliage that is yellow-green when grown in full sun.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of 4 year-old plants as grown outdoors in a 15-cm containers in Sosa-shi, Chiba, Japan.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a view of the overall plant habit and foliage of ‘Miu’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a view of the new growing tips of ‘Miu’.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Podocarpus.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 1 year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in three-gallon containers in Luxley, Ala. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Plant type.—Evergreen shrub.         -   Plant habit.—Upright with medium tapering.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 34 cm in height and 23 cm             in width in a 3-gallon container, mature height in the             landscape is 15 to 20 m in height and 5 to 10 m in spread.         -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zones 8b to 11.         -   Diseases resistance.—No susceptibility or resistance has             been observed, generally Podocarpus macrophyllus is disease             free.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Root development.—Fully root as a young plant in about 6             months.         -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings.         -   Growth rate.—Slow. -   Stem description:     -   -   Shape.—Round to slightly quadrangular.         -   Stem color.—New growth, a color between 150D and 145D with             fine ridges of 144C and becoming marked with blotches of             145A; mature bark; 199C and 182C with some areas of 144A             showing through bark cracks (as observed on trees six years             in age).         -   Stem size.—Main stems; average of 29 cm in length and 6 mm             in width (mid stem), lateral branches; average of 11 cm in             length and an average of 3 mm in diameter.         -   Stem surface.—New growth; smooth and glabrous with a few             fine ridges, mature growth; patches of smooth bark with very             fine ridges.         -   Branching.—An average of 3 main stems in a 3-gallon             container and an average of 8 lateral branches per main             stem.         -   Branch internode length.—Lateral branches in whorls of 3 to             5 branches an average of 7 cm apart. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Linear.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Attenuate.         -   Leaf apex.—Narrowly acute.         -   Leaf fragrance.—None, but pine scented if crushed.         -   Leaf venation.—Parallel, only midribs of new growth is             conspicuous, midrib is slightly raised on upper surface,             color on new leaves upper and lower surface; 145A then             turning to 137B, color on mature leaves upper and lower             surface; 144A.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Whorled.         -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.         -   Leaf internode length.—Average of 7 mm in length.         -   Leaf surface.—Glabrous and slightly satiny on upper and             lower surface.         -   Leaf substance.—Thick and coriaceous.         -   Leaf size.—An average of 5.5 cm in length and 5 mm in width.         -   Leaf quantity.—Average of 50 on a lateral branch 12 cm in             length.         -   Leaf color.—Growth tips and new leaves; 11C, newly expanded             leaves; upper surface and lower surface 4D with midrib 145A,             maturing leaves upper and lower surface; 4D with midrib and             mottling of 137B, mature lower leaves; upper surface 137B             with faint spots of 137A and NN137A, lower surface 144A with             faint spots of 137B. -   Inflorescence description: Flowers and fruit have not been observed     on any plants currently grown. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Podocarpus plant named ‘Miu’ as herein illustrated and described. 